Torpedo construction



Sept. 29, 1959 F; H. SMITH ToRPEDo CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets5heet 1 FiledSept. l1, 1943 fri, .B1 s

Sept. 29, 1959 F. H. SMITH ToRPEDo CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledSept. 1l, 1943 bhv Sept. 29, 1959 F. H. SMITH 2,906,227

ToRPEDo CONSTRUCTION Filed sept. 11. 1943 4 sheets-sheet :s

ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1959 F. H. SMITH ToRPEDo CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet4 Filed sept. 11, 194s INVENTOR FREDERICK H. SMITH ATTORNEY FatentedSept. 29, 1959 l' lice roRPEDo CONSTRUCTION Frederick H. Smith, EastNatick, Mass., assign'or to lthe United States of America as representedby the Secletary ofthe Navy Application september 11, 1943, serial No.502,674

3 claims. (ci. 114-20) This invention relates to torpedoes and moreparticularly to a novel automatically controlled torpedo which is ruggedand compact and may be readily assembled.

One object of the invention resides in the provision of a torpedo ofnovel construction which may be assembcd quickly and easily by reason ofits inclusion of a frame o'r cartridge supporting a control means forthe torpedo and adapted to slide into position on rails or ways mountedin the torpedo hull. in its preferred construction, the torpedo hull ismade up of head and tail sections and a. main central section having apair of rails on 'which the cartridge may be moved. In assembling thetorpedo, the control means, which may include batteries, electronicdevices, etc., for an automatic steering system, is mounted on thecartridge and the latter is moved on the rails into the main section ofthe hull, after which the necessary wiring connections may be made tothe driving means, microphones, or other parts in the head or tailsection, or both, before joining these sections to the main section.

Another object of the invention is to provide a torpedo of the characterdescribed in which at least part of the control means is mounted on aframe or cartridge adjustable longitudinally on rails in the torpdohull, whereby the relative positions of the center of buoyance and thecenter of gravity of the hull may be varied to trim the torpedo.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel torpedo having acontrol apparatus mounted on ya frame or cartridge in the hull andincluding a battery, or the like, the center of gravity of which isdisposed on one side of the Vertical plane through the longitudinal axisof the torpedo, or to one side of the center of buoyancy so as tocounteract the torque of the motor and propeller acting to rotate thehull in the water, whereby the hull is provided with the desired trim.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of atorpedo of the character described having a control apparatus so mountedand arranged as to be capable of withstanding the shock incident todropping the torpedo from an aircraft.

These and other objects of the invention may be better understood byreference to the accompanying drawings and the following detaileddescription. In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a vertical, longitudinalsectional view of one form of the new torpedo, parts of which are shownin side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail side view of a portion of the depth steeringapparatus, partly in section;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View on the line 6--6 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the assembled cartridge and the adjacenttail section;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the aerodynamic stabilizer;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view in perspective Iof the forward endportion of lthe hull before the cartridge is inserted, showing the guiderails for the cartridge;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the cartridge showing the batterycompartments and the chassis for electronic components ofthe steeringsystem;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the torpedo in flight after it isdropped from an aircraft and before it strikes the Water, and

Fig. l2 is a perspective View of the torpedo as it strikes the water,showing the destruction of the aerodynamic stabilizer.

The torpedo, as shown, is of the type which is launched from an airplaneand steered automatically in the water by the action of compressionalwaves transmitted through the Water from a submarine or other target.The azimuth and depth steering system may be of any desired constructionbut is preferably of the form disclosed in a copending application of C.K. Stedman et. al., Serial No. 502,075, iled September 11, 1943.

The hull of the torpedo comprises a main section 20 of cylindrical form,a generally hemispherical head 21 on the front end of the main section,and a tail portion 22 on the rear end of the main section. At its frontend, the main section 2i) is provide with inwardly extending anges '23spaced circumferentially around the section in alignment with generallyU-shaped recesses 24 in the head 2'1. The head is connected to the mainsection 20 by bolts 2S extending through the rear end walls of therecesses 24 and through the aligned flanges 23, the bolts being providedon their rear ends with nuts Z6 which are tightened against the flanges.A suitable sealing gasket 21a may be inserted between the adjacent endsof the main section 20 and the head 21. The had 21 contains a suitablefuze (not shown) and a plurality of azimuth and depth steeringmicrophones or ears (not shown), as illustrated, for example, in theabove-identified application of C. K. Stedman et al., and the usual highexplosive charge is packed around the microphones and the fuze.

The tail section 22, as shown, tapers from the main section 20 of thehull, although the tail section may be of hemispherical or other form.At its front ends, the tail section 22 has an outwardly extendingperipheral :flange 27 seated against an internal liange 27a on the mainsection 20, the flanges 27 and 27a being held together by bolts 28. Asealing gasket 22a may be interposed between the flanges 27 and 27a tomake the hull watertight. lf desired, the tail section 22 may bearranged so that its surface lies flush with the surface of the mainsection 2t).

`Within the tail section 22 is an electric motor 30 for driving apropeller 31 adjacent the rear end of the hull. The motor 30 is mountedin a hub 32 connected to a ring 33 by radial arms 34, the ring having aslight taper and being litted closely in the front end portion of thetail 22. The driving motor is connected to the propeller through a pairof aligned shafts 35 and 35a releasably connected by an adaptor 36. Inorder to steer the torpedo in azimuth, I provide a pair of verticalrudders 37 adjacent the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of thetail section 22, the rudders being mounted in any suitable manner sothat they may swing on a vertical axis. Similarly, the torpedo issteered vertically by a pair of horizontal rudders 38 mounted on theopposite sides of the tail portion and adapted to swing on a horizontalaxis. The azimuth rudders 37 are actuated by a reversible electricsteering motor 39 in the tail section, the driving shaft of the motorhaving a gear 40 (Fig. 4) engaging a rack 41 which is Connected througha rod 42 to a lever 43 for swinging the azimuth rudders. A similarsteering motor 44 has on its driving shaft a gear 45 engaging a rack 46which operates the depth steering rudders 38 through a shaft 47 and alever 48. The steering motors 39 and 44 are mounted in any suitablemanner near the opposite sides of the tail portion 22 with the drivingshafts of the motors in alignment.

The main section 20 of the hull contains an open frame or cartridge 50comprising four longitudinal beams 51 and a pair of circular bulkheads52 to which the beams may be welded or otherwise secured. The bulkheads52 are spaced apart a substantial distance and are disposed inwardlyfrom the ends of the beams 51, each bulkhead being preferably providedwith radial cross-braces 52a for strengthening it. Mounted in thecentral portion of the cartridge 50 are two main batteries 53 and 54which may be encased in suitable padding S. As shown, the batteries reston a plate 56 extending transversely between thc two lower beams 51, andthe batteries are covered by a similar plate 57 connected between thetwo upper beams. The batteries 53 and 54 serve to supply current to thedriving and steering motors 30, 39 and 44 and to electrical componentsof the azimuth and depth steering system, as disclosed in theabove-identified application of C. K. Stedman et al.

Near the front end of the cartridge Si) is a generally circular chassis60 connected to the beams 51 and extending transversely thereof. On thefront face of the chassis 60 are partitions 61 dividing the chassis intoseveral compartments which contain azimuth and depth steeringamplifiers, shown generally at 62. In assembling the amplifiers on thechassis 60, the usual vacuum tubes are mounted so that they are basedown when the torpedo strikes the water, whereby the tubes are betterable to withstand the shock incident to launching the torpedo. Thechassis 60 is disposed a substantial distance in front of the forwardbulkhead 52, and the space between the bulkhead and the chassis containsa commutator 63 mounted on a transverse support 64 extending between thetwo lower beams 5l. The purpose of the commutator 63 is to switch one ormore stages of the azimuth amplifying means alternately between the leftand right azimuth microphones, as shown in said application of Stedmanet al.

A horizontal plate 6d is mounted on the two lower beams Sl near the rearend of cartridge 50 and is adapted to support steering amplifiers (notshown) electrically coupled to the amplifying means 62, the output ofthe steering amplifiers being operable to control the steering motors 39and 44, respectively. Above the plate 66 is an insulating panel 67disposed within 'the cartridge and supporting main power relay 68 forswitching on the propulsion motor 3i) after the torpedo is launched fromthe airplane. Secured to the beams 51 on opposite sides of panel 67 aresupporting members 69, one of which carries a pendulum potentiometer 70for use in controlling the depth steering system. Mounted on thesupporting members 69 on the other side of the cartridge is a pressuretype bellows 7l operable hydro-statically through a tube 72 inaccordance with changes in the depth of the torpedo. The bellows 7l isbiased by a compression spring 73 and is operatively connected throughan arm 74, a rack 75 and a pinion 76 to a potentiometer 77. The pendulumpotentiometer 74B and the hydrostatically operated potentiometer 77 areused in controlling the depth steering system, as disclosed in saidapplication of Stedman et al. A second bellows (not shown) may bemounted on the cartridge to operate a snap switch for shutting off themain power motor 30 when the torpedo reaches a predetermined depth.

It will be apparent that the torque incident to driving the singlepropeller 3l would tend to rotate the torpedo hull in the water unlesssuitable provision were made for counteracting the effect ofthe torque.In order to counteract the torque incident to driving the propeller, lmount one or more B batteries 80 on one side of the cartridge 50. Thus,if the torpedo hull were stationary in the water with the propelleridle, it would be rotated through a considerable angle from its intendedposition, due to the eccentric mounting of the batteries S0, but whenthe pro- ,peller is driven, the resulting torque overcQmGS. the torquedue to the eccentric mounting of the batteries and causes the hull toassume its intended position. The batteries serve to supply current tocomponents of the azimuth and depth steering system, as disclosed insaid application of Stedman et al., and may be supplemented byadditional batteries -81 secured to the bottom portion of the cartridge.

The cartridge 50 is mounted on a pair of longitudinal rails 82 securedto the bottom portion of the main section 20 of the hull as by means ofwelding 82a. The rails 82 are spaced apart a distance corresponding tothe spacing between the two lower beams 51 of the cartridge, so thatthese beams normally rest upon the rails, and the cartridge is ladaptedto slide longitudinally in the hull. Thus, in assembling the torpedo,the batteries and other electrical components are mounted on thecartridge 50 before the latter is inserted in the main section 20 of thehull. In this way, the mounting and wiring of the parts on the cartridgeis greatly facilitated for the reason that the cartridge is fullyexposed and the parts thereon are readily accessible. After the partshave been mounted on the cartridge and wired, the lower beams 51 at oneend of the cartridge are placed upon the rails 82 at one end of the mainsection 20 of the hull, and the cartridge is slid into position on therails. If desired, the cartridge may be locked in itspiinal position bybolts 83 extending through the lower beams 51 and the correspondingrails. When the cartridge has been positioned in the hull section 20 onthe rails, the necessary wiring connections are made from the parts onthe cartridge to the motors 3i), 39 and 44 in the tail section and tothe microphones (not shown) in the head, and then the head and tailportions are bolted to the main section 20.

In order to stabilize the torpedo in its flight before it strikes thewater, I provide an aerodynamic stabilizer in the form of a rectangularmember having side walls 84 made of wood or other frangible material.The stabilizer 84 is supported by tail fins 22b which also support therudders, and each of the side Walls 84 of the stabilizer has a pair ofspaced ribs 85 adapted to lie on opposite sides of one of the fins. Nearthe inner ends of each pair of ribs 85 is a transverse rib 8'5engageablewith the leading edge of the adjacent iin 'to prevent thestabilizer from Sliding 0H the fins. When the torpedo strikes the water,the stabilizer 84 is shattered by the impact, as shown in Fig. l2, sothat it is released and does not impose a drag on the hull. It has beenfound that a stabilizer of the form described serves to dampen the usualpitching-angle oscillations during the aerial ight of the torpedo andprevents the torpedo from tumbling in its aerial llight so as to insureits striking the water nose first at the proper angle.

By mounting the main components of the control means for the torpedo onthe cartridge 50, the relative positions of the center of buoyancy andthe center of gravity of the hull may be readily varied by sliding thecartridge longitudinally on the rails S2. This is a feature ofparticular advantage, because, when the torpedo is arranged for a testrun, the trim would normally differ considerably from the trim when thetorpedo is loaded with high explosive for use against a target, and byadjusting the position of the cartridge on the rails, the torpedo may betrimmed in the desired manner regardless of its loading.

I claim:

l. A torpedo comprising a generally cylindrical shell, a pair of railssecured to the inner Wall of the shell, a cartridge having an openframework comprising a pair of longitudinal beams engageable with therails and on which the cartridge is adjustable longitudinally on therails, means for adjustably securing the beams to the rails, and controlapparatus mounted on the cartridge and including means for displacingthe center of gravity of the cartridge on one side of the center ofbuoyancy of the torpedo to counteract the torque incident to driving thetorpedo.

2. A torpedo comprising a generally cylindrical shell, a pair of railssecured to the inner wall of the shell, a cartri-fige having an openframe comprising a pair o longitudinal beams engageable with the railsand on which the cartridge is adjustable longitudinally on the rails,means for adjustably securing the beams to the rails, and controlapparatus mounted on the cartridge and including a bat tery having itscenter of gravity located to one side of the vertical plane through thelongitudinal axis of the cartridge for displacing the center of gravityof the cartridge on one side of the center of buoyancy of the torpedo tocounteract the torque incident to driving the torpedo.

3. A torpedo having a head section, a main section and a tail section,the three sections being removably secured together, the main sectioncomprising a generally cylindrical shell, a pair of longitudinallyextending rails secured to the inner Walls of the shell, an open frameadapted to be removably mounted in the shell, said frameV comprising aplurality of beams and bulkheads secured References Cited in the le ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,460,175 Rayder June 26, 1923 FOREIGNPATENTS n 20,232 Great Britain Sept. 3, 1909 750,402 France Aug. 10,1933

